Local 97 – CDHA Nurses – Negotiations Continue

At the local meeting held on October 21st, NSGEU President Joan Jessome and your bargaining committee made a commitment to you that work scheduling issues and the use of vacation credits will be two of the major priorities in this round of bargaining. We have spent most of October 24th and October 25th discussing these concerns at the bargaining table, and offered suggestions to resolve these issues.

We understand that these issues are as equally important as Nurse-to-Patient ratios.

At this stage, we have had very little discussion with your employer with respect to Nurse-to-Patient ratios. However, much to our surprise, the employer advised us at the end of these two days, that although they understood the reason for the Nurse-to-Patient ratio proposal, they are not interested in a formula for Nurse-to-Patient ratios as a contractual obligation in your Collective Agreement.

It is difficult to understand why CDHA does not want to bargain one of your most important proposals. We know that research shows that appropriate Nurse-to-Patient ratios yields better patient outcomes, such as:

Reduction in CNS complications;

Reduction in patient falls;

Reduction in gastric complications;

Reduction in re-admissions;

Reduction in follow-up ER visits;

Reduction in mortality rates.

Although this is an issue about patient safety and better outcomes for patients, there is evidence that there is also a reduction in sick leave and overtime.

Your bargaining committee will still continue to pursue this issue, as well as your other priorities.

We are scheduled to return to the bargaining table on November 4th and 5th.